Bolton – Children – Ages 0 – 4

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The list below shows you what services are available depending on where you are in your assessment journey. Whether you suspect you/your child may be Autistic, you are awaiting a formal diagnostic assessment, or you may recently have had such an assessment, there is a service to help. 

Assessment

The list below shows you what services are available depending on where you are in your assessment journey. Whether you suspect you/your child may be Autistic, you are awaiting a formal diagnostic assessment, or you may recently have had such an assessment, there is a service to help.

Pre-assessment

The list below shows you what services are available depending on where you are in your assessment journey. Whether you suspect you/your child may be autistic, you are awaiting a formal diagnostic assessment, or you may recently have had such an assessment, there is a service to help.

The diagnostic services.

Any information or activity offered to parents/ individuals as a pre-assessment service.

For children under 5, a referral to community paediatrics is required in the first instance if there are concerns regarding your child’s development or medical conditions. 

• Early years integrated social & emotional wellbeing pathway overview
  
• Autism Pathway in Bolton – SEND Local Offer

The lead professional may make referrals to other agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy, Behavioural Support Services or Educational Psychologists to help gather the information. Referrals can be made for children and young people with a Bolton GP. 

Autism Pathway in Bolton – SEND Local Offer

Post-diagnosis

Services / groups/ activities offered after diagnosis.

Post diagnostic support should be needs led. This means that if your child has been identified as requiring some additional support or Reasonable adjustments. This should happen whether you get a diagnosis of autism or not. 

In Bolton, there will be an individualised description of your child’s needs with signposting to appropriate services and support. For those diagnosed with autism, there is the following offer of post diagnostic support, these courses are developed by the National Autistic Society and delivered by trained Bolton practitioners: Autism Pathway in Bolton – SEND Local Offer

National Autistic Society

Communication

Autistic people often have some communication differences.
The resource below offer some general advice:

The Speech and Language Therapy Service will assess and develop an individualised programme of care to maximise the communication potential of the children and young people referred to them and under their care. Speech and Language Therapists work with children who may need help: 

• Understanding what people say to them
• Listening and following instructions
• Playing and communication with other children
• Understanding their environment 
• Saying sounds and talking clearly 
• Using words in sentences
  

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy – SEND Local Offer

GM resources on communication

Sensory

Autistic people often experience their senses differently and understanding this can be the key to supporting the autistic person to self-regulate and understand themselves better.

Here are some useful resources about sensory needs and differences’.

Educational Psychology Service - Our team of educational psychologists work mainly with children and young people aged 0-25 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Educational psychologists use psychology to help children and young people with the development of learning, communication, physical and sensory needs, and social and emotional skills needed for adulthood/independence.
Educational psychologists – SEND Local Offer
Marketplace Sensory Room – Bolton Council teamed up with Breaking Barriers (a specialist autism charity) to create this sensory place within the heart of Bolton.
The Market Place opens new sensory room for children | The Bolton News

GM resources on sensory

Physical Health & Co-occuring Conditions

Autistic children/adults may also develop a few co-occurring health issues. These may be physical or mental health conditions.

Kidz2gether - Bolton based charity supporting children affected by autism and autistic spectrum disorders
Kidz2gether Bolton Children's Charity Autism Autistic ASD

Breaking Barriers – a specialist Autism Charity in Bolton that assists autistic adults with a wide range of activities to promote health and wellbeing

Breaking Barriers NW Bolton Charity Disabled Autism

GM resources on physical health

Eating

Due to sensory differences, many autistic children/adults have preferences with eating.

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Team – they can assist with eating and drinking issues in children with diagnoses of various conditions including autism. Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy – SEND Local Offer

GM resources on eating

Understanding Behaviour

Some autistic children have difficulties with communication, sensory experiences and thinking styles. 
This may lead to stress and anxiety related behaviour from the autistic child. Services below can support parents and carers with these behaviours.

Some autistic children have difficulties with communication, sensory experiences and thinking styles Bolton’s SEND Local Offer - Home – SEND Local Offer.
Educational Psychology Service - Our team of educational psychologists work mainly with children and young people aged 0-25 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Educational psychologists use psychology to help children and young people with the development of learning, communication, physical and sensory needs, and social and emotional skills needed for adulthood/independence. Educational psychologists – SEND Local Offer.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Some autistic adolescents may experience co-occurring mental health conditions. The information below lists support available where you live in relation to mental health and well-being support.

Bolton CAMHS - We are a service offering help for children and young people, usually between the ages of five and 18 who live in Bolton.
We work with children and young people to help them cope when they are having problems relating to how they feel, how they think about things and sometimes how they behave.
The team in CAMHS works with GPs, hospitals and other professionals, such as teachers, to assess, treat and support young people and children, and their parents or carers.
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Bolton | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)
BeKindToMyMind is a Bolton campaign to help reduce the stigma around mental health. Our local message to children and young people who are struggling with their mental health is that "it's ok to talk!"

This website has resources for Parents/Carers, Young People and Professionals to access.
Be Kind To My Mind – Be Kind To My Mind is a Bolton campaign, developed by the Healthy Minds Youth Project and NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, to reduce the stigma and discrimination around mental health.

General Advice on Mental Health:

Advice on Mental health